Imaging display apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

An imaging display apparatus, includes: display means for image display; first image signal generation means for generating a display image signal based on a captured image signal captured by an imaging section with a field of view direction of a user being a direction of an object; second image signal generation means for generating a display image signal of an image different from an image of the display image signal generated by the first image signal generation means; and control means for allowing, simultaneously on the display means, display of the image of the display image signal generated by the first image signal generation means and display of the image of the display image signal generated by the second image signal generation means.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 13/926,531, filed Jun.25, 2013, allowed, which is a continuation of application Ser. No.13/564,439, filed Aug. 1, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,514,149, which is acontinuation of application Ser. No. 11/860,969, filed Sep. 25, 2007,now U.S. Pat. No. 8,253,760, and claims the benefit of priority under 35U.S.C. §119 from Japanese Patent Application JP 2006-281043 filed in theJapanese Patent Office on Oct. 16, 2006, the entire contents of each areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an imaging display apparatus and methodthat can display images captured by an imaging section with a field ofview direction of a user being a direction of an object.

2. Description of the Related Art

Various types of apparatuses have been proposed for image display with adisplay section, e.g., glass-type or head-wearing-type unit, disposedimmediately before user's eyes. As examples, refer to JP-A-8-126031(Patent Document 1), JP-A-9-27970 (Patent Document 2), and JP-A-9-185009(Patent Document 3).

Also proposed is an apparatus that can capture images of the view in thefield of view direction of a user with a small-sized camera attached toa glass-type or head-wearing-type unit. As an example, refer toJP-A-2005-172851 (Patent Document 4).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, such previous devices are not yet providing a user with varioustypes of images including the view in his or her field of viewdirection.

It is thus desirable to provide an imaging display apparatus and methodthat can provide a user with various types of images including the viewin his or her field of view direction, enable to enhance the visualability of the user, and offer the user with usability and enjoyment.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is providedan imaging display apparatus, including: display means for imagedisplay; first image signal generation means for generating a displayimage signal based on a captured image signal captured by an imagingsection with a field of view direction of a user being a direction of anobject; second image signal generation means for generating a displayimage signal of an image different from an image of the display imagesignal generated by the first image signal generation means; and controlmeans for allowing, simultaneously on the display means, display of theimage of the display image signal generated by the first image signalgeneration means and display of the image of the display image signalgenerated by the second image signal generation means.

The display means is disposed before eyes of a user for image display.

Alternatively, the display means is formed in a chassis different from achassis including therein the first image signal generation means.

The first image signal generation means includes: the imaging section;and a signal processing section that performs signal processing withrespect to the captured image signal captured by the imaging section.

The imaging section is configured to include, as an imaging element, aCCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor or a CMOS (Complementary Metal OxideSemiconductor) sensor.

The second image signal generation means generates the display imagesignal to be supplied to the display means based on the captured imagesignal captured by the imaging section.

In this case, the second image signal generation means includes: theimaging section; and a signal processing section that performs signalprocessing with respect to the captured image signal captured by theimaging section.

The imaging section captures an image of a view in the direction of anobject being the field of view direction of a user.

Alternatively, the imaging section captures an image of a view in thedirection of an object being not the field of view direction of a user.

The imaging section captures an image of a view in the direction of anobject being variable.

The imaging section is configured to include, as an imaging element, aCCD sensor or a CMOS sensor.

The second image signal generation means generates the display imagesignal of the image different from the image of the display image signalgenerated by the first image signal generation means by operationcontrol exercised by the imaging section over an imaging lens system.

The second image signal generation means generates the display imagesignal of the image different from the image of the display image signalgenerated by the first image signal generation means by the signalprocessing in the signal processing section.

The second image signal generation means includes a reception sectionthat receives an image signal from an external device, and generates,based on the image signal received by the reception section, the displayimage signal of the image different from the image of the display imagesignal generated by the first image signal generation means.

The second image signal generation means includes a reproduction sectionthat reproduces an image signal from a recording medium, and generates,based on the image signal reproduced by the reproduction section, thedisplay image signal of the image different from the image of thedisplay image signal generated by the first image signal generationmeans.

The display means is set with, in a screen area, a master screen areaand a slave screen area, and in either the master screen area or theslave screen area, image display is made by the display image signalprovided by the first image signal generation means, and on theremaining screen area, image display is made by the display image signalprovided by the second image signal generation section.

In the display means, a screen area is split into two areas, and in oneof the two areas, image display is made by the display image signalprovided by the first image signal generation means, and in theremaining area, image display is made by the display image signalprovided by the second image signal generation section.

One of the display image signals generated by the first and second imagesignal generation means is an image signal captured by close-rangeimaging or long-range imaging.

One of the display image signals generated by the first and second imagesignal generation means is an image signal captured by telephoto imagingor wide-angle imaging.

One of the display image signals generated by the first and second imagesignal generation means is an image signal captured by scale-upprocessing or scale-down processing.

One of the display image signals generated by the first and second imagesignal generation means is an image signal captured with an increase ora decrease of an imaging sensitivity.

One of the display image signals generated by the first and second imagesignal generation means is an image signal captured with an increase ofan infrared imaging sensitivity.

One of the display image signals generated by the first and second imagesignal generation means is an image signal captured with an increase ofan ultraviolet imaging sensitivity.

One of the display image signals generated by the first and second imagesignal generation means is an image signal captured in a field of viewdirection of a user being a direction of an object.

One of the display image signals generated by the first and second imagesignal generation means is an image signal captured in a direction, asthe direction of the object, different from the field of view directionof the user.

According to another embodiment of the invention, there is provided animaging display method, including: a first image signal generation stepof generating a display image signal based on a captured image signalcaptured by an imaging section with a field of view direction of a userbeing a direction of an object; a second image signal generation step ofgenerating a display image signal being an image different from an imageof the display image signal generated in the first image signalgeneration step; and a display step of allowing, simultaneously, displayof the image of the display image signal generated in the first imagesignal generation step and display of the image of the display imagesignal generated in the second image signal generation step.

According to the embodiments of the invention, as described above, whena user wears the imaging display apparatus of the embodiments of theinvention being of a glass type or head-wearing type, for example, theimaging section becomes ready for capturing an image of a view in thefield of view direction of the user. The resulting image captured by theimaging section as such, i.e., a display image signal being the image ofthe view in the field of view direction of the user derived by the firstimage signal generation means, is supplied to the display means fordisplay thereon. At the same time of display as such, the display imagesignal generated by the second image signal generation means is alsodisplayed, e.g., a plurality of images may be displayed all at once withscreen split, picture-in-picture display, and others.

The image of the display image signal generated by the second imagesignal generation means is different from that of the display imagesignal generated by the first image signal generation means. Thedifference of these images may be variously resulted from the differenceof imaging direction, or even with the same imaging direction, resultedfrom the difference of zooming, focal position, sensitivity, signalprocessing, and others, or the image of the second image signalgeneration means may be provided from any other apparatuses orreproduced from a recording medium, for example.

The display image signal of the first image signal generation meansdisplays the image of the view normally spreading in front of the user,and the display image signal of the second image signal generation meansdisplays any image that cannot be usually available with any normalsense of sight. As such, the user's visual ability can be enhanced, andinteresting display can be offered.

Note here that the first and second image signal generation means eachserve as a source of display image signals for display. The expressionsof the first and second do not restrictively mean that two of the imagesignal generation means are provided, and this surely does not hinderthe provision of three or more of the image signal generation means.

According to the embodiments of the invention, on the display means, thedisplay image signal of the first image signal generation means displaysthe image of the view normally spreading in front of the user, and thedisplay image signal of the second image signal generation meansdisplays any image that cannot be usually available with any normalsense of sight so that the user's visual ability can be enhanced andusable or interesting display can be offered.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are each a diagram showing an exemplary external view ofan imaging display apparatus of an embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are each a diagram showing another exemplary externalview of the imaging display apparatus of the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing still another exemplary external view of theimaging display apparatus of the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the imaging display apparatus of theembodiment;

FIG. 5 is another block diagram showing the imaging display apparatus ofthe embodiment;

FIGS. 6A to 6C are each a diagram showing the relationship between theimaging display apparatus of the embodiment and an external device(s);

FIG. 7 is still another block diagram showing the imaging displayapparatus of the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is still another block diagram showing the imaging displayapparatus of the embodiment;

FIGS. 9A to 9F are each a diagram showing the area configuration of adisplay section in the embodiment;

FIGS. 10A to 10C are each a diagram showing another area configurationof the display section in the embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a control process of the embodiment;

FIGS. 12A to 12C are each a diagram showing an image display state ofthe embodiment;

FIGS. 13A to 13C are each a diagram showing another image display stateof the embodiment;

FIGS. 14A to 14C are each a diagram showing still another image displaystate of the embodiment;

FIGS. 15A to 15C are each a diagram showing still another image displaystate of the embodiment;

FIGS. 16A to 16C are each a diagram showing still another image displaystate of the embodiment; and

FIGS. 17A to 17C are each a diagram showing still another image displaystate of the embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the below, described are an imaging display apparatus and method inan embodiment of the invention in the following order:

1. Exemplary External View of Imaging Display Apparatus and Relationshipwith External Device

2. Exemplary Configuration of Imaging Display Apparatus

3. Area Configuration on Screen

4. Exemplary Display Operation

5. Exemplary Operation Trigger

6. Effects of Embodiment, Modified Examples, and Enhanced Examples

1. Exemplary External View of Imaging Display Apparatus and Relationshipwith External Device

As an embodiment of the invention, FIGS. 1A and 1B each show anexemplary external view of an imaging display apparatus 1 being aglass-type display camera. The imaging display apparatus 1 exemplarilyincludes a wearable unit of a frame configuration as shown in FIG. 1B,i.e., extends halfway across the head from the sides to rear thereof.The wearable unit is placed on a user's ears as shown in FIG. 1A so thatthe user can wear the imaging display apparatus 1.

The imaging display apparatus 1 is so configured that a pair of displaysections 2 and 2 is positioned immediately before the eyes of the user,i.e., where the lenses of a pair of normal glasses are positioned, whenthe user wears the apparatus. The display sections 2 are provided forthe right and left eyes, respectively, and are each a liquid crystalpanel, for example. Note here that when no image display is made by thedisplay sections 2, the liquid crystal panels may be controlled in termsof transmittance, and may be put in the through state, i.e., madetransparent or translucent.

The imaging display apparatus 1 is provided with two imaging lens 3 aand 3 a, which are disposed toward the front direction of the user whenthe user wears the apparatus 1, i.e., the two imaging lens 3 a and 3 aare both so attached that the field of view direction (frontward) of theuser wearing the imaging display apparatus 1 is the direction of anobject.

The imaging display apparatus 1 is provided with light-emitting sections4 a and 4 a that illuminate the direction of imaging by the imaginglenses 3 a and 3 a. The light-emitting sections 4 a and 4 a are eachformed by an LED (Light Emitting Diode), for example.

Although a detailed description will be given later by referring to FIG.4, the imaging lenses 3 a and 3 a are respectively included in imagingfunction components (C1 and C2). The imaging lenses 3 a and 3 a eachprovide a captured image signal being the imaging result. The capturedimage signals are both subjected to any predetermined processing, andthe resulting display image signals are displayed on the displaysections 2.

The configuration of FIGS. 1A and 1B is merely an example, and variousother configurations are possible for the imaging display apparatus 1 tomake it available for the user to wear. The imaging display apparatus 1may be formed with a wearable unit generally of a glass or head-wearingtype, and in the embodiment, may be at least provided with the displaysections 2 in the vicinity of the front of the user's eyes. The displaysections 2 are not necessarily provided in pairs for each of the eyes,and alternatively, may be solely provided for one of the eyes.

In a possible configuration, the light-emitting sections 4 a may not beprovided.

In the configuration of FIGS. 1A and 1B, the imaging lenses 3 a and 3 aare so attached that the front of the user is the direction of anobject. Alternatively, the two imaging lenses 3 a and 3 a may be soattached as to capture images of the view in each different direction asthe direction of an object.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show an example. In the example of FIGS. 2A and 2B, forimaging in the front, one imaging lens 3 a and one light-emittingsection 4 a are provided, and for the unit located on the rear side ofthe head, another imaging lens 3 a and another light-emitting section 4a are provided. With such a configuration, one of these two imaginglenses 3 a and 3 a is in charge of imaging in the field of viewdirection of the user, and the remaining imaging lens 3 a is in chargeof imaging in the direction different from the field of view directionof the user, i.e., in this case, in the rear direction of the user.

In this embodiment, at least one imaging lens 3 a is assumed as being incharge of imaging in the field of view direction of the user. When theremaining imaging lens 3 a is so disposed as to take charge for imagingin the direction different from the field of view direction of the user,the direction of an object is not necessarily the rear direction of theuser, and may be the upward, leftward, rightward, or downward direction,for example.

Alternatively, three or more of the imaging lens 3 a may be provided,and these may be oriented in the same direction or in each differentdirection.

In the exemplary configurations of FIGS. 1A to 2B, the imaging lenses 3a and 3 a are fixedly provided, and thus the direction of an objectduring imaging is fixed, i.e., in front and/or rear of the user.Alternatively, the imaging lens 3 a may be provided via a movablemechanism that can change the direction of an object so that thedirection of the object during imaging may be changed manually orautomatically.

The imaging lenses 3 a may be of various types, e.g., entirely a fixedtype or a movable type, or partially a movable type.

FIGS. 1A to 2B show the imaging display apparatuses 1 in which theportion for imaging is formed as a piece with the display sections 2 formonitoring of any captured images. FIG. 3 shows another possibleconfiguration of the imaging display apparatus 1 in which the displaysection 2 is separately provided.

In the imaging display apparatus 1 of FIG. 3, an imaging unit section 40and a display unit section 30 are separately provided.

The imaging unit section 40 is attached to the head portion of a user byany predetermined wearable unit. The imaging unit section 40 is providedwith the imaging lens 3 a, which is directed forward for imaging in thefield of view direction of a user being the direction of an object whenthe user wears the imaging display apparatus 1.

The imaging unit section 40 is provided with the light-emitting section4 a that illuminates the direction of imaging by the imaging lens 3 a.The light-emitting section 4 a is formed by an LED, for example.

With such a configuration, although the details are left for laterdescription, the imaging unit section 40 carries therein acommunications section for forwarding data of any captured images to thedisplay unit section 30, which is separately provided.

The display unit section 30 is assumed as being portable for a user withlight weight and small size.

The display unit section 30 is provided therein with a communicationssection for data communications with the imaging unit section 40, and isoperated to display image data, on a display screen 31, provided by theimaging unit section 40.

The user may use such an imaging display apparatus 1 in which theimaging unit section 40 and the display unit section 30 are providedseparately from each other.

2. Exemplary Configuration of Imaging Display Apparatus

By referring to FIGS. 4 to 8, described below is an exemplary internalconfiguration of the imaging display apparatus 1.

First of all, FIG. 4 shows an exemplary configuration corresponding toFIGS. 1A to 2B described above, i.e., two of the imaging functioncomponent are included.

A system controller 10 is configured by a microcomputer including a CPU(Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random AccessMemory), a nonvolatile memory section, and an interface section. Thesystem controller 10 serves as a control section that exercises controlover the imaging display apparatus 1 in its entirety.

This system controller 10 exercises control over the components in theimaging display apparatus 1 based on any internal operation program andan operation trigger coming from an operation trigger informationgeneration section 16. The system controller 10 then makes the displaysection 2 perform any predetermined image display thereon.

In the imaging display apparatus 1, as a first imaging functioncomponent C1, provided are an imaging section 3, an imaging controlsection 11, and an imaging signal processing section 15.

The imaging section 3 in the imaging function component C1 is providedwith the imaging lenses 3 a of FIGS. 1A and 1B or FIGS. 2A and 2B, alens system, a drive system, a solid-state imaging element array, andothers. The lens system is configured to include an aperture, a zoomlens, a focus lens, and others. The drive system exercises control overthe lens system to go through a focus operation and a zoom operation.The solid-state imaging element array detects an imaging light derivedby the lens system, and generates an imaging signal throughphotoelectric conversion. The solid-state imaging element array isexemplified by a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor array, and a CMOS(Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor array.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 examples, the imaging section 3 in the imaging functioncomponent C1 capture images of the view in front of a user.

The imaging signal processing section 15 is configured to include asample hold/AGC (Automatic Gain Control) circuit or a video A/D(Analog-to-Digital) converter, and derives an imaging signal beingdigital data. The sample hold/AGC circuit performs gain adjustment andwaveform shaping with respect to a signal derived by the solid-stateimaging element in the imaging section 3. The imaging signal processingsection 15 performs, with respect to the imaging signal, processing ofwhite balance, brightness, color signal, camera-shake correction, andothers.

The imaging signal processing section 15 is assumed as serving also as aso-called video processor, and being a portion for processing theimaging signal to achieve various types of display.

The imaging signal processing section 15 is capable of performing, forexample, with respect to the imaging signal, adjustment of intensitylevel, contrast, and sharpness (edge enhancement), correction of color,and others. The imaging signal processing section 15 is also capable ofgenerating scaled-up or scaled-down images being results of partiallyscaling up or down the imaging signal, and image effects processingincluding mosaicing, intensity inversion, soft focus, partial highlightdisplay, and entire color tone change, for example. The imaging signalprocessing section 15 is also capable of processing of generatingcharacter images and concept images, synthesizing the generated imagesto any captured images, and others.

That is, the imaging signal processing section 15 can go through varioustypes of processing with respect to a digital video signal being animaging signal.

The imaging control section 11 exercises control over the imagingsection 3 and the imaging signal processing section 15 in terms ofoperation, i.e., control over the imaging operation of the imagingfunction component C1. Such control is exercised based on a commandcoming from the system controller 10. For example, the imaging controlsection 11 exercises control over ON/OFF of the operation of the imagingsection 3 and the imaging signal processing section 15. The imagingcontrol section 11 is assumed as exercising control, i.e., motorcontrol, over the imaging section 3 to go through operations of autofocus, automatic exposure adjustment, aperture adjustment, zoom, focuschange, and others.

As described in the foregoing, when the imaging display apparatus 1 isprovided with a movable mechanism that can move the direction of anobject by the imaging lens 3 a, the imaging control section 11 exercisescontrol over the movable mechanism in terms of operation based on acommand coming from the system controller 10 so that the direction ofthe imaging lens 3 a is changed in the imaging section 3.

The imaging control section 11 is provided with a timing generator, andusing a timing signal generated by the timing generator, exercisescontrol over, in terms of signal processing operation, the solid-stateimaging element and the components in the imaging signal processingsection 11, i.e., the sample-hold/AGC circuit and the video A/Dconverter. Through such timing control, the imaging frame rate can bealso controlled variable.

The imaging control section 11 exercises control over the solid-stateimaging element and the imaging signal processing section 15 in terms ofimaging sensitivity and signal processing. The imaging sensitivitycontrol includes gain control over signals to be read from thesolid-state imaging element, black-level setting control, varyingcoefficient control during processing of an imaging signal being yetdigital data, and correction amount control during camera-shakecorrection processing, for example. The imaging sensitivity may besubjected to any entire sensitivity adjustment with no specificconsideration for a wavelength band, or to any sensitivity adjustmentfor adjusting the imaging sensitivity of any specific wavelength bandsuch as an infrared area or ultraviolet area, e.g., imaging of cuttingoff any specific wavelength band. The sensitivity adjustment inconsideration of wavelength is possible by insertion of a wavelengthfilter in the imaging lens system, and by wavelength filter computationprocessing to an imaging signal. In these cases, the imaging controlsection 11 can exercise sensitivity control by insertion control over awavelength filter, or by specifying a filter computation coefficient,for example.

The imaging control section 11 also exercises control over the imagingsignal processing section 15 in terms of image processing operationbased on a command coming from the system controller 10. That is, theimaging control section 11 makes the imaging signal processing section15 go through the above-described various types of processing.

The image display device 1 is also provided with another set of theimaging section 3, the imaging control section 11, and the imagingsignal processing section 15 as a second imaging function component C2.

The components in the second imaging function component C2, i.e., theimaging section 3, the imaging control section 11, and the imagingsignal processing section 15, are basically the same as the componentsin the first imaging function component C1, i.e., the imaging section 3,the imaging control section 11, and the imaging signal processingsection 15.

The imaging section 3 in the imaging function component C2 is providedwith one of the imaging lenses 3 a of FIG. 1A or FIGS. 2A and 2B, a lenssystem, a drive system, a solid-state imaging element array, and others.The lens system is configured to include an aperture, a zoom lens, afocus lens, and others. The drive system exercises control over the lenssystem to go through a focus operation and a zoom operation. Thesolid-state imaging element array detects an imaging light derived inthe lens system, and generates an imaging signal through photoelectricconversion. The solid-state imaging element array is exemplified by aCCD sensor array, and a CMOS sensor array.

In the example of FIGS. 1A and 1B, similarly to the imaging functioncomponent C1, the imaging section 3 of the second imaging functioncomponent C2 capture the image of the view in front of a user. On theother hand, in the example of FIGS. 2A and 2B, the imaging section 3 ofthe second imaging function component C2 captures the image of the viewin the direction different from that for the imaging function componentC1, e.g., the view in the rear direction of the user.

The imaging signal processing section 15 of the imaging functioncomponent C2 is also configured to include a sample hold/AGC (AutomaticGain Control) circuit or a video A/D converter, and derives an imagingsignal being digital data. The sample hold/AGC circuit performs gainadjustment and waveform shaping with respect to a signal derived by thesolid-state imaging element in the imaging section 3. The imaging signalprocessing section 15 performs, with respect to the imaging signal,processing of white balance, intensity, color signal, camera-shakecorrection, and others. The imaging signal processing section 15 isassumed as serving also as a so-called video processor, and being aportion for processing the imaging signal to achieve various types ofdisplay. The imaging signal processing section 15 is capable ofperforming, for example, with respect to the imaging signal, adjustmentof intensity level, contrast, and sharpness (edge enhancement),correction of color, and others. The imaging signal processing section15 is also capable of generating scaled-up or scaled-down images beingresults of partially scaling up or down the imaging signal, and imageeffects processing including mosaicing, intensity inversion, soft focus,partial highlight display, and entire color tone change, for example.The imaging signal processing section 15 is also capable of processingof generating character images and concept images, synthesizing thegenerated images to any captured images, and others.

The imaging control section 11 exercises control over the imagingsection 3 and the imaging signal processing section 15 in terms ofoperation, i.e., control over the imaging operation of the imagingfunction component C2. Such control is exercised based on a commandcoming from the system controller 10. For example, the imaging controlsection 11 exercises control over ON/OFF of the operation of the imagingsection 3 and the imaging signal processing section 15. The imagingcontrol section 11 is assumed as exercising control, i.e., motorcontrol, over the imaging section 3 to go through operations of autofocus, automatic exposure adjustment, aperture adjustment, zoom, focuschange, and others.

As described in the foregoing, when the imaging display apparatus 1 isprovided with a movable mechanism that can move the direction of anobject by the imaging lens(es) 3 a, the imaging control section 11exercises control over the movable mechanism in terms of operation basedon a command coming from the system controller 10 so that the directionof the imaging lens(es) 3 a is changed in the imaging section 3.

The imaging control section 11 is provided with a timing generator, andusing a timing signal generated by the timing generator, exercisescontrol over, in terms of signal processing operation, the solid-stateimaging element and the components in the imaging signal processingsection 11, i.e., sample-hold/AGC circuit and a video A/D converter.Through such timing control, the imaging frame rate can be alsocontrolled variable.

The imaging control section 11 exercises control over the solid-stateimaging element and the imaging signal processing section 15 in terms ofimaging sensitivity and signal processing. The imaging sensitivitycontrol includes gain control over signals to be read from thesolid-state imaging element, black-level setting control, varyingcoefficient control during processing of the imaging signal being yetdigital data, and correction amount control during camera-shakecorrection processing, for example. The imaging sensitivity may besubjected to any entire sensitivity adjustment with no specificconsideration for a wavelength band, or to any sensitivity adjustmentfor adjusting the imaging sensitivity of any specific wavelength bandsuch as an infrared area or ultraviolet area, e.g., imaging of cuttingoff any specific wavelength band. The sensitivity adjustment inconsideration of wavelength is possible by insertion of a wavelengthfilter in the imaging lens system, and wavelength filter computationprocessing to an imaging signal. In these cases, the imaging controlsection 11 can exercise sensitivity control by insertion control over awavelength filter, or by specifying a filter computation coefficient,for example.

The imaging control section 11 exercises control over the imaging signalprocessing section 15 in terms of image processing operation based on acommand coming from the system controller 10. That is, the imagingcontrol section 11 makes the imaging signal processing section 15 gothrough the above-described various types of processing.

These imaging function components C1 and C2 each supply a captured imagesignal being the result of imaging to the display image processingsection 12 as a display image signal for use for display on the displaysection 2.

In the imaging display apparatus 1, the components in charge of displayfor a user include the display section 2, the display image processingsection 12, a display drive section 13, and a display control section14.

The display image signals derived in the imaging function components C1and C2 are supplied to the display image processing section 12. In thiscase, the display image processing section 12 performs screen split andimage synthesis for the aim of displaying the display image signalsprovided by the imaging function components C1 and C2, i.e., two imagesources (image signal generation means) all at once on the displaysection 2.

For example, the display image processing section 12 sets a screen areato the display section 2 as picture-in-picture screen, split screen, andothers, and makes the resulting areas display therein images of thedisplay image signals provided by the imaging function components C1 andC2.

The display drive section 13 is configured by a pixel drive circuit formaking the display section 2 display the image signals coming from thedisplay image processing section 12. The display section 2 is a liquidcrystal display. That is, for display as such, pixels in matrix in thedisplay section 2 are each applied with a drive signal based on a videosignal. The signal application is made at any predeterminedhorizontal/vertical drive timing.

Note here that the display drive section 13 exercises control over thedisplay section 2 in terms of pixel transmittance to put the screen inthe through state entirely or partially.

The display control section 14 exercises control over the display imageprocessing section 12 in terms of processing operation, and over thedisplay drive section 13 in terms of operation based on a command comingfrom the system controller 10.

For each of the imaging function components C1 and C2, an illuminationsection 4 and an illumination control section 18 are provided. Theillumination section 4 is configured by the light-emitting section 4 aof FIGS. 1A to 2B, and a light-emitting circuit that illuminates theillumination section 4, e.g., LED. The illumination control section 18makes the illumination section 4 go through the light-emitting operationbased on a command coming from the system controller 10.

With the light-emitting section 4 a attached as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2examples in the illumination section 4, the illumination section 4 goesthrough the illumination operation with respect to the direction of anobject by the imaging lens(es) 3 a.

The operation trigger information generation section 16 generatesoperation trigger information for starting or ending image display onthe display section 2, for display mode change, and others.

This operation trigger information generation section 16 can beconfigured by an operation piece and an operation detection mechanism.The operation piece is an operation key or an operation dial that isoperated by a user, for example, and the operation detection mechanismdetects how the operation piece is operated. This configuration is for acase where the operation trigger information about various types ofoperations is the user's manual operation. The operation triggerinformation generation section 16 supplies the user's operationinformation as the operation trigger information to the systemcontroller 10 so that the system controller 10 exercises control over adisplay operation in response to the user's operation.

Alternatively, the operation trigger information generation section 16may be so configured as to be able to detect any user information andoutside world information. The user information is detection informationabout user's range of vision, body behavior, state of body, and others,and the outside world information is detection information about theenvironment around the imaging display apparatus, location, date andtime, and circumstances surrounding an object, and others. For example,the system controller 10 may take charge of determining whether togenerate an operation trigger or not based on such user information andoutside world information. The examples of the user information and theoutside world information will be described later.

FIG. 5 shows another exemplary configuration of the imaging displayapparatus 1. Note here that any function block same as that of FIG. 4 isprovided with the same reference numeral, and not described twice.

Compared with the configuration of FIG. 4, the configuration of FIG. 5does not include the second imaging function component C2 and thecomponents provided corresponding to the second imaging functioncomponent C2, i.e., the illumination section 4 and the illuminationcontrol section 18, but newly includes a communications section 26.

The communications section 26 performs data transmission/reception withany external devices. The external devices include a computer device, amobile phone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), an AV (Audio-Visual)equipment including a video storage device, a television receiver, andothers, and a network server device, for example.

The communications section 26 may be so configured as to perform networkcommunications, in mode of wireless LAN or Bluetooth, via close-rangewireless communications with respect to network access points, forexample. Still alternatively, the communications section 26 may performwireless communications directly with any external device provided withany corresponding communications function.

In FIG. 5 example, the communications section 26 performs communicationswith an external device as shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C, and receives imagedata from the external device. The communications section 26 thenprovides the received image data to the display image processing section12 as a display image signal for use for display on the display section2. The image signal being the result of processing in the display imageprocessing section 12 is provided to the display drive section 13 fordisplay on the display section 2.

FIGS. 6A to 6C each show the state of use of the imaging displayapparatus 1 in relation to the external device.

FIG. 6A shows an example in which the imaging display apparatus 1performs communications with an imaging apparatus 70 being an externaldevice using the communications section 26. In this case, the imagingdisplay apparatus 1 receives an image captured by the imaging apparatus70, and makes the display section 2 display the image thereon. Theexternal imaging apparatus 70 is exemplified by a video camera, adigital still camera, and others provided with a communicationscapability. Alternatively, any other imaging display apparatuses 1similar to that in this embodiment may serve as the external imagingapparatus 70.

The external imaging apparatus 70 may vary in type, e.g., an imagingapparatus owned by a user using the imaging display apparatus 1, animaging apparatus owned by a friend of a user using the imaging displayapparatus 1, an imaging apparatus belonging to any public or servicecorporations being an source of images or others and being available forcommunications with the imaging display apparatus 1.

FIG. 6B shows an example in which the imaging display apparatus 1 isprovided with the communications capability, and communicates with anexternal content source device 71. In this case, the imaging displayapparatus 1 receives images, i.e., moving/still images, coming from thecontent source device 71 for display on the display section 2.

The content source device 71 is exemplified by video equipment,television tuner, AV (Audio-Visual) equipment such as home serverdevice, information processor such as personal computer, PDA (PersonalDigital Assistant), mobile phone, and others. Such a content sourcedevice 71 also varies in type, e.g., a device owned by a user or afriend of a user using the imaging display apparatus 1, or a serverdevice belonging to any public or service corporations being a source ofvarious types of contents or others.

The data to be forwarded from the content source device 71 to theimaging display apparatus 1 varies in type for display use, e.g., movingimage contents such as movies and video clips, still image contentscaptured by a digital still camera or others and recorded on a recordingmedium, data such as E-book, image data created by a user using apersonal computer or others, text data, computer-use data such asspreadsheet data, and game image.

FIG. 6C shows an example in which the communications section 26 in theimaging display apparatus 1 is provided with a communications accesscapability over a network 73 such as the Internet, and performscommunications with the external imaging apparatus 70 and the contentsource device 71 connected over the network 73. In this case, theimaging display apparatus 1 receives image data over the network 73, andbased on the received image data, makes the display section 2 performimage display using a display image signal.

FIG. 7 shows another exemplary configuration of the imaging displayapparatus 1. Note here that any function block same as that of FIGS. 4and 5 is provided with the same reference numeral, and not describedtwice.

Compared with the configuration of FIG. 4, the configuration of FIG. 7does not include the second imaging function component C2 and thecomponents provided corresponding to the second imaging functioncomponent C2, i.e., the illumination section 4 and the illuminationcontrol section 18, but newly includes a storage section 25.

The storage section 25 is a portion where data is recorded andreproduced to/from any predetermined recording medium. The storagesection 25 is implemented by an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), for example. Therecording medium surely varies in type, e.g., solid-state memory such asflash memory, memory card equipped with a solid-state memory, opticaldisk, magneto-optical disk, and holographic memory. The storage section25 may be so configured as to be able to perform recording andreproduction in accordance with the type of a recording medium for use.

The image data is to be supplied to the storage section 25 via an imageinput/output control section 27. The image data here includes data of animage captured by the imaging section 3 of the imaging functioncomponent C1 and processed by the imaging signal processing section 15as an imaging signal, and image data received by the communicationssection 26. The audio data is to be supplied to the storage section 25via an audio input/output control section 28. The audio data hereincludes audio data derived by an audio input section 6, and audio datareceived by the communications section 26.

Being under the control of the system controller 10, the storage section25 reproduces image data from a recording medium. The image data beingthe reproduction result is supplied to the display image processingsection 12 as a display image signal for use for display on the displaysection 2. The image signal being the processing result of the displayimage processing section 12 is supplied to the display drive section 13,and is displayed on the display section 2.

The data to be reproduced by the storage section 25 varies in type foruse, e.g., moving image contents such as movies and video clips, stillimage contents captured by a digital still camera or others and recordedon a recording medium, data such as E-book, image data created by a userusing a personal computer or others, text data, computer-use data suchas spreadsheet data, and game image.

FIG. 8 shows still another exemplary configuration of the imagingdisplay apparatus 1, i.e., corresponding to FIG. 3 example in which theimaging unit section 40 is provided separately from the display unitsection 30.

In this example, similarly to FIG. 5, the imaging unit section 40includes the imaging function component C1, and the communicationssection 26.

The display image signals to be derived by the image function componentC1 and the communications section 26 are supplied to a displaycommunications control section 20. The display communications controlsection 20 performs encoding processing for communications with thedisplay unit section 30, i.e., encodes the display image signals comingfrom the image function component C1 and the communications section 26.

The image data being the encoding result of the display communicationscontrol section 20 is forwarded from the communications section 21 tothe display unit section 30.

The display unit section 30 is provided with a communications section34, a display section 31, a display image processing section 32, adisplay drive section 33, a display control section 35, and an operationsection 36.

The communications section 34 performs data communications with thecommunications section 21 of the imaging unit section 40, i.e., receivesimage data and performs decoding processing. The image data here is theone coming from the imaging unit section 40, i.e., the image data beingthe display image signals derived by the image function component C1 andthe communications section 26.

The display image signal being the decoding result of the communicationssection 34 is supplied to the display image processing section 12. Inthis case, the display image processing section 12 goes throughprocessing of screen split and image synthesis for displaying thedisplay image signals coming from the image function component C1 andthe communications section 26, i.e., two image signal sources (imagesignal generation means) all at once on the display section 31.

For example, the display image processing section 12 sets a screen areato the display section 31 as picture-in-picture screen, split screen,and others, and makes the resulting areas display therein images of thedisplay image signals provided by the imaging function component C1 andthe communications section 26.

The display drive section 33 is configured by a pixel drive circuit formaking the display section 31 display thereon image signals coming fromthe display image processing section 32. The display section 31 is aliquid crystal display. That is, for display as such, pixels in matrixin the display section 31 are each applied with a drive signal based ona video signal. The signal application is made at any predeterminedhorizontal/vertical drive timing.

The display control section 35 exercises control over the display imageprocessing section 32 in terms of processing operation, and over thedisplay drive section 33 in terms of operation. For example, the displaycontrol section 35 exercises control over ON/OFF of the displayoperation and area configuration change on the screen in response to auser's operation made through the operation section 36.

When command information from the system controller 10 is provided bycommunications established between the communications sections 21 and34, in response to the command information from the system controller10, the display control section 35 may exercise control over ON/OFF ofdisplay operation, area configuration change on the screen, and others.

As such, described above are the exemplary configurations of the imagingdisplay apparatus 1 by referring to FIGS. 4, 5, 7, and 8.

FIG. 4 is an example in which the two imaging function components C1 andC2 are provided each as an image source (image signal generation means)for generating a display image signal for display on the display section2.

FIG. 5 is an example in which the imaging function component C1 and thecommunications section 26 are provided each as an image source (imagesignal generation means) for generating a display image signal fordisplay on the display section 2.

FIG. 7 is an example in which the imaging function components C1 and thestorage section 25 are provided each as an image source (image signalgeneration means) for generating a display image signal for display onthe display section 2.

FIG. 8 is an example in which the imaging function components C1 and thecommunications section 26 are provided each as an image source (imagesignal generation means) for generating a display image signal similarlyto the example in FIG. 5, and the imaging unit section 40 and thedisplay unit section 30 are provided separately from each other.

These configuration examples are not surely restrictive, and variousother configurations are also possible for the imaging display apparatus1.

Although exemplified above is the example in which two image sources areprovided, this is surely not restrictive, and three or more imagesources may be provided.

A possible configuration may include the imaging function component C1,the communications section 26, and the storage section 25, or three ormore imaging function components C1, C2, C3, and others.

In the embodiment, at least one of a plurality of image sources isassumed as capturing the image of the view in the field of viewdirection of a user. That is, the imaging function component C1 in eachof the configuration examples is in charge of such imaging, and adisplay image signal derived by the imaging function component C1 is animaging signal for the field of view direction of a user.

The remaining image sources are each in charge of generating a displayimage signal for displaying an image different from the image capturedby the imaging function component C1.

Herein, the image of the display image signal derived by the imagingfunction component C1, i.e., the image different from the image capturedfor the view in the field of view direction of a user, can be acquiredin various manners.

When the imaging function component C2 is covering the directiondifferent from the direction covered by the imaging function componentC1, for example, the image captured by the imaging function component C2itself is different from the image captured by the imaging functioncomponent C1. The image received by the communications section 26 andthe image reproduced by the storage section 25 are also different fromthe image captured by the imaging function component C1.

Even when the imaging function component C2 is covering the directionsame as that of the imaging function component C1 as in the example ofFIGS. 1A and 1B, i.e., the field of view direction of a user, theresulting image of the imaging function component C2 may be differentfrom that of the imaging function component C1 depending on the mannerof imaging operation and the imaging signal processing.

In this embodiment, the display image signals from these image sourcesare displayed on the display section 2 all at once, thereby providingvarious many images to a user.

3. Area Configuration on Screen

FIGS. 9A to 10C each show an exemplary area configuration when images ofdisplay image signals from a plurality of image sources are displayed onthe screen of the display section 2 all at once.

In the display section 2 (in FIG. 8 example, the display section 31 ofthe display device 30), to display images from a plurality of imagesources all at once, the screen may be set with a master screen area anda slave screen area, or may be split into a plurality of areas.

In FIGS. 9A to 9F, areas AR1 and AR2 each denote an area for display ofimages provided by each different image source.

FIG. 9A shows an example in which the area AR2 is set to the lower rightportion in the screen area, i.e., the area AR1, of the display section 2for use as a slave screen, and the areas AR1 and AR2 both take charge ofimage display.

FIG. 9B shows an example in which the area AR2 is set to the lower leftportion in the screen area, i.e., the area AR1, of the display section 2for use as a slave screen, and the areas AR1 and AR2 both take charge ofimage display.

Although not shown, with a slave screen set as such, there are variousother placements are possible for the area AR2 being a slave screen inthe area AR1, e.g., upper right, upper left, center, right of center,and left of center.

FIG. 9C shows an example in which the area AR2 is reduced in size.

FIG. 9D shows an example in which the area AR2 is increased in size.

FIG. 9E shows an example in which the screen area of the display section2 is equally split, and the resulting areas AR1 and AR2 are placed nextto each other.

FIG. 9F shows an example in which the screen area of the display section2 is equally split, and the resulting areas AR1 and AR2 are placed oneon the other.

For image display in the configurations of FIGS. 4 to 8, for example,with the area configurations as in FIGS. 9A to 9F, the area AR1 maydisplay an image of the user's field of view with an image source of theimaging function component C1, and the area AR2 may display an imageprovided by any other image sources, e.g., the imaging functioncomponent C2, the communications section 26, and the storage section 25.

The system controller 10 may refer to the information provided by theoperation trigger information generation section 16, e.g., user'soperation information, user information, outside world information, toselect any of the area configurations of FIGS. 9A to 9F for imagedisplay, or change the area configurations thereamong. For example, thesystem controller 10 may change the position of the area AR2 being aslave screen as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B in response to the user'soperation, may change the size of the area AR2 as shown in FIGS. 9C and9D, or may equally split the screen of the display section 2 as shown inFIGS. 9E and 9F, thereby being able to meet the user's preferences.

For so-called display area configuration change, the areas AR1 and AR2in FIGS. 9A to 9F may be changed in position, and the area AR2 maydisplay an image of the user's field of view with the imaging functioncomponent C1 being an image source, and the area AR1 may display animage of any other image sources, i.e., the imaging function componentC2, the communications section 26, and the storage section 25.

FIGS. 10A to 10C each show an exemplary area configuration in the screenof the display section 2 with three image sources, and in FIGS. 10A to10C, areas AR1, AR2, AR3 each denote an area for display of images,i.e., display image signals, provided by each different image source.

FIG. 10A shows an example in which the area AR2 is set to the lower leftportion in the screen area of the display section 2, i.e., the area AR1,and the area AR3 is set to the lower right portion therein for use eachas a slave screen, and the areas AR1, AR2, AR3 each take charge of imagedisplay.

FIG. 10B shows an example in which the area AR2 is set to the left ofthe area AR1 in the screen area of the display section 2, and the areaAR3 is set to the right thereof, and the areas AR1, AR2, AR3 each takecharge of image display.

FIG. 10C shows an example in which the area AR2 is set to above the areaAR1 in the screen area of the display section 2, and the area AR3 is setto below thereof, and the areas AR1, AR2, AR3 each take charge of imagedisplay.

Although not shown, the screen of the display section 2 may be equallysplit to have the areas AR1, AR2, AR3 of the same size.

Similarly to the cases of FIGS. 9A to 9F, the area configurations ofFIGS. 10A to 10C are also changed or the areas are changed in positionunder the control of the system controller 10.

Note here that, in a case where three or more of an image source areprovided, two of those may be selected for image display with the areaconfigurations as in FIGS. 9A to 9F.

This is surely not restrictive, and when four or more of an image sourceare provided, images from these image sources may be each displayed orimages of any selected two or more of the image sources may bedisplayed.

When the two display sections 2 are provided for right and left eyes,respectively, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 2B, one of the screens of thedisplay sections 2 may display an image provided by one of the imagesources, and the remaining screen may display an image of the remainingimage source.

Moreover, image display may be made on each of a plurality of screens ofa multi-screen display, e.g., two-screen display of acommercially-available portable game machine.

4. Exemplary Display Operation

In the imaging display apparatus 1 varying in configuration as shown inFIGS. 4 to 8 in the embodiment, display image signals coming from aplurality of image sources are displayed on the display section 2. Oneof the image sources is the imaging function component C1 and capturesan image of the view in the field of view direction of a user, and theremaining image sources generate a display image signals being imagesdifferent from the image captured by the imaging function component C1.As such, the user's visual capability can be enhanced, and the resultingdisplay will look interesting.

Described next are the control application by the system controller 10,and exemplary various display operations thereby.

FIG. 11 shows the control processing to be performed by the systemcontroller 10.

In step F101, the system controller 10 determines whether a displaystart trigger is generated for a plurality of images. For such adetermination, for example, an operation piece may be provided as theoperation trigger information generation section 16 to make it availablefor user's operation, and when the user operates such a predeterminedoperation piece, the system controller 10 may determine that a triggeris generated for starting display of a plurality of images.Alternatively, although the details are left for later description, theoperation trigger information generation section 16 may detect the stateof a user or the state of the outside world, and based on anypredetermined requirements, the system controller 10 may determine thata trigger is generated for starting display of a plurality of images.

Note here that in the period of time until such a display start triggeris generated for a plurality of images, the display section 2 may becontrollably put in the through state, or the image captured by theimaging function component C1 may be controllably solely displayed onthe display section 2, for example.

Alternatively, when the imaging display apparatus 1 is turned ON, aplurality of images may be responsively displayed, and with such atrigger, the imaging display apparatus 1 may always display a pluralityof images.

When a determination is made that a display start trigger is generatedfor displaying a plurality of images, the procedure goes to step F102,and the system controller 10 exercises control to start displaying aplurality of display image signals. That is, the system controller 10exercises control over the display section 2 to make image display withthe display image signal provided by the imaging function component C1and the display image signal provided by any other image sources.

If with the configuration of FIG. 4, the imaging operation of theimaging function components C1 and C2 is started in step F102, and thedisplay image signals of the imaging function components C1 and C2 aresupplied to the display image processing section 12. With the areaconfigurations of FIGS. 9A to 9F, the display section 2 is so controlledas to display thereon the resulting images.

Note here that when the imaging function components C1 and C2 arecovering each different direction as the direction of an object as shownin FIGS. 2A and 2B, an image normally captured by the imaging functioncomponent C2 will be different from that of the imaging functioncomponent C1 so that the display section 2 displays thereon variousimages on its screen split into a plurality of areas.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, when the imagingfunction components C1 and C2 are covering the same direction as thedirection of an object, the system controller 10 issues a command ofdirecting the manner of imaging operation and signal processing in theimaging function component C2. With such control application to make theimaging function components C1 and C2 capture each different image sothat the display section 2 displays thereon various images on aplurality of areas.

With the configuration of FIG. 5, in step F102, the imaging operation ofthe imaging function component C1 is started, and the resulting displayimage signal captured by the imaging function component C1 is suppliedto the display image processing section 12. The image data received bythe communication section 26 is also supplied to the display imageprocessing section 12 as a display image signal. Thereafter, with thearea configurations as described by referring to FIGS. 9A to 9F, thedisplay section 2 is so controlled as to display thereon the images.

Alternatively, with the configuration of FIG. 5, when the communicationssection 26 is provided with image data from an external device, it isdetermined that a display start trigger is generated in step F101, andimage display may be started in step F102 with the imaging functioncomponent C1 and the communications section 26 both being the imagessources. In the period of time when the communications section 26 isreceiving no image data, the display section 2 may be so controlled asto display thereon solely the display image signal provided by theimaging function component C1, for example.

With the configuration of FIG. 7, the imaging operation of the imagingfunction component C1 is started in step F102, and the resulting displayimage signal captured by the imaging function component C1 is suppliedto the display image processing section 12. Also in step F102, a commandis issued for the storage section 25 to perform the reproductionoperation, and the resulting reproduced image data is supplied to thedisplay image processing section 12 as the display image signal.Thereafter, with the area configurations as described by referring toFIGS. 9A to 9F, the display section 2 is so controlled as to displaythereon the images. Note that, with the configuration of FIG. 7, when areproduction start trigger is generated for the storage section 25 inresponse to the user's operation, the state of a user, the state of theoutside world, and others, it is determined in step F101 that a displaystart trigger is generated. With such a determination, in step F102, theimage display may be started with the imaging function component C1 andthe storage section 25 both being the image sources. In the period oftime when the storage section 25 is not in the process of reproduction,the display section 2 may be so controlled as to display thereon solelythe display image signal provided by the imaging function component C1,for example.

When display of a plurality of images is started with the areaconfigurations of FIGS. 9A to 10C, for example, the system controller 10monitors whether a display change trigger is generated in step F103, andmonitors whether a display end trigger is generated for a plurality ofimages in step F104.

Generation of a display change trigger in step F103 means a case thatthe system controller 10 determines to make a display image change basedon the user operation, or the state of a user, or the state of theoutside world.

The display image change includes a content change of one or more of theimages, and an area configuration change.

The content change of the display images widely varies, and includesimage change as a result of zoom processing and a focus position changein the imaging sections 3 of the imaging function components C1 and C2,image change as a result of an imaging sensitivity change, image changeas a result of signal processing in the imaging signal processingsection 15, image change as a result of an imaging direction change(direction of an object) if with the imaging section 3 being a movablecamera, image change as a result of image source change if with three ormore image sources of a display image signal, and others.

The area configuration change includes the position change in apicture-in-picture screen, the position change between master and slavescreens, the position change or shift of screens being the result ofscreen split, the change to the entire screen display, and others. Withsuch an area configuration change, controllably, the state of FIG. 9A ischanged to the state of FIG. 9B, or the state of FIG. 9A is changed tothe state of FIG. 9E, for example.

As to the display end trigger for a plurality of images in step F104,when a user operates a predetermined operation piece to end the imagedisplay, for example, the system controller 10 may determine it asgeneration of a trigger for ending the display of a plurality of imagesin the current state. Alternatively, the system controller 10 may detectthe state of a user or the state of the outside world, and in accordancewith any predetermined requirements, determine that a trigger isgenerated for starting display of a plurality of images.

When the system controller 10 determines that a display change triggeris generated in step F103, the procedure goes to F105, and the systemcontroller 10 exercises change control over the image display operation.This accordingly change the details of the image(s) displayed in somearea of the display section 2, i.e., one or both of the areas AR1 andAR2, or change the area configuration of the display section 2.

After step F105, i.e., the control application over display change, thesystem controller 10 keeps monitoring any trigger generation in stepsF103 and F104.

When the system controller 10 determines that a display end trigger isgenerated for a plurality of images in step F104, the procedure goes toF106, thereby ending the operation of displaying, on the display section2 all at once, the images provided by a plurality of image sources.

Such display end control varies, and includes display change to displayonly an image provided by the imaging function component C1, imagedisplay termination on the display section 2, or state change of thedisplay section 2, e.g., through state, by image display termination onthe display section 2, or power OFF for example.

With such control exercised by the system controller 10 as shown in FIG.11, the display section 2 accordingly display thereon images from aplurality of images all at once.

Described below is exemplary simultaneous display of images provided bya plurality of image sources by referring to FIG. 12 and thereafter.

By referring to FIGS. 12A to 13C, with imaging display apparatus 1 inthe exemplary configurations of FIGS. 1A and 1B and FIG. 4, describednow is a case where the imaging function components C1 and C2 are soconfigured as to capture images of the view in front of a user, i.e., inthe field of view direction of a user.

FIG. 12A shows normal image display fully on the screen of the displaysection 2, e.g., only an image normally captured by the imaging functioncomponent C1 is displayed on the display section 2.

On the other hand, FIG. 12B shows simultaneous image display on thedisplay section 2, i.e., images provided by a plurality of image sourcesare displayed all at once by the operation of this embodiment. With suchsimultaneous image display, the display image signal of an imagenormally captured by the imaging function component C1 is displayed inthe area AR1, and at the same time, the display image signal of an imagecaptured by the imaging function component C2 is displayed in the areaAR2. The system controller 10 is exercising operation control over theimaging section 3 of the imaging function component C2 in terms oftelephoto zoom. With telephoto imaging performed by the imaging functioncomponent C2, the image of the area AR2 looks different from the imageof the area AR1. Accordingly, while looking at the normal view, the usercan enjoy also the telephoto image that is not available with normalsense of sight.

Exemplified here is the case that the imaging function component C2offers a telephoto image. Alternatively, by the imaging functioncomponent C2 performing wide-angle zooming, the area AR2 can displaytherein a wide-angle image of the close-range view. To derive suchtelephoto images and wide-angle images, in addition to the drive controlexercised over the zoom lens in the imaging section 3 of the imagingfunction component C2, the signal processing will do in the imagingsignal processing section 15 in the imaging signal component C2.

Although not shown, alternatively, images in a close or long range maybe captured for display in the area AR2 of the display section 2. Suchimaging may be performed in response to a command issued by the systemcontroller 10 not for zooming but for a focus point change in theimaging section 3 of the imaging function component C2.

Also exemplified above is the case where an image captured by theimaging function component C1, i.e., an image normally captured for theview in the field of view direction of a user, is displayed in the areaAR1, and an image captured by the imaging function component C2 isdisplayed in the area AR2. Alternatively, an image by the imagingfunction component C1, i.e., an image normally captured for the view inthe field of view direction of a user, may be displayed in the area AR2,and an image by the imaging function component C2, e.g., telephotoimage, may be displayed in the area AR1.

Exemplified below are examples in which an image by the imaging functioncomponent C1, i.e., an image normally captured for the view in the fieldof view direction of a user, is displayed in the area AR1, and an imageby any other image sources, i.e., an image looking different from theimage of the imaging function component C1, is displayed in the areaAR2. In all of these examples, an image by the imaging functioncomponent C1, i.e., an image normally captured for the view in the fieldof view direction of a user, may be displayed in the area AR2, and animage by any other image sources, i.e., an image looking different fromthe image of the imaging function component C1, may be displayed in thearea AR1.

FIG. 12C shows an example in which the display image signal of an imagenormally captured by the imaging feature component C1 is displayed inthe area AR1, and at the same time, an image captured by the imagingfeature component C2 is scaled up, and the resulting display imagesignal is displayed in the area AR2. Such image display is implementedby the system controller 10 issuing a command for the imaging signalprocessing section 15 of the imaging function component C2 to scale upthe image provided by the imaging section 3.

Also with such image display, while looking at the normal view, the usercan enjoy also the scaled-up image that is not available with normalsense of sight.

Alternatively, the system controller 10 may issue a command for theimaging function component C2 to scale down the image provided by theimaging section 3, and display the resulting scaled-downed image in thearea AR2.

FIG. 12A shows a case with the dimly-lit environment. An image normallycaptured by the imaging function component C1 is displayed in the areaAR1. On the other hand, when the environment is dimly lit as such, thesystem controller 10 issues a command for the imaging control section 11(the imaging section 3, and the imaging signal processing section 15) ofthe imaging function component C2 to increase the imaging sensitivity,or a command for adjustment of brightness level, contrast, andsharpness. With such a command, the resulting display image signal canbe more enhanced with higher brightness, and an image of such a displayimage signal is displayed in the area AR2. With the brightness-adjustedimage displayed as such, the area AR2 displays therein the image lookingdifferent from the normally-captured image displayed in the area AR1 sothat the user can see the images that are usually not availabletherefor.

On the other hand, when the environment is too bright, the systemcontroller 10 may issue a command for the imaging control section 11(the imaging section 3, and the imaging signal processing section 15) ofthe imaging function component C2 to reduce the imaging sensitivity, ora command for adjustment of brightness level, contrast, and sharpness.Such a command prevents the image of the resulting display image signalfrom being glared, and an image of such a display image signal may bedisplayed on the area AR2.

FIG. 13B shows a case where a user is in a dark bedroom where his or herchild is sleeping, and the room is pitch dark and not visible with theimage normally captured by the imaging function component C1 for displayon the area AR1. When the system controller 10 issues a command for theimaging control section 11 (the imaging section 3, and the imagingsignal processing section 15) of the imaging function component C2 toincrease the infrared sensitivity, the area AR2 accordingly displaystherein the image in which the infrared sensitivity is thus increased.That is, with the resulting image display, the user can see the child'ssleeping face in the dark room. As such, the user can see a night-visionimage that is not usually available.

FIG. 13C shows exemplary image display in which the area AR1 displaystherein an image normally captured by the imaging function component C1.With such image display, when the system controller 10 issues a commandfor the imaging control section 11 (the imaging section 3, and theimaging signal processing section 15) of the imaging function componentC2 to increase the ultraviolet sensitivity, the area AR2 accordinglydisplays therein the image in which the ultraviolet sensitivity is thusincreased. As such, the user can see an image with the ultravioletcomponent that is not usually available to see.

By referring to FIGS. 12A to 13C, described above are the exemplarycases where the imaging function components C1 and C2 are both sodisposed as to cover the area in front of a user for imaging in theconfiguration of FIG. 4. FIG. 14A to 14C each show exemplary imagedisplay in which, in the configuration of FIG. 4, the imaging functioncomponent C1 is so disposed as to cover the area for imaging in front ofa user, i.e., the field of view direction of a user, and the imagingfunction component C2 is so disposed as to cover the area for imaging inthe direction different from the field of view direction of the user.

When the imaging function component C2 is so disposed as to cover thearea in the rear of a user for imaging, for example, the image displaystate will be as shown in FIG. 15A. The area AR1 displays therein animage captured by the imaging function component C1 for the view infront of the user, and the area AR2 displays therein an image capturedby the imaging function component C2 for the view in the rear of theuser.

When the imaging function component C2 is so disposed as to cover thearea for imaging above the user, for example, the image display statewill be as shown in FIG. 15B. The area AR1 displays therein the imagecaptured for the view in front of the user, and the area AR2 displaystherein the image captured for the view above the user.

Also in these cases, while looking at the area AR1 displaying the normalimage captured for the view in the field of view direction, the user canlook at the area AR2 displaying the image of the view in the directiondifferent from the user's field of view, e.g., rear image and upperimage.

FIG. 14C shows an exemplary display in the configuration that three ofthe imaging function component are provided. Although the configurationis not shown, the three imaging function components are denoted by C1,C2, and C3 for convenience.

Presumably, for imaging, the imaging function component C1 covers thearea in front of a user, the imaging function component C2 covers thearea in the rear right of the user, and the imaging function componentC3 covers the area in the rear left of the user.

In these cases, the area AR1 displays therein an image captured by theimaging function component C1 for the area in front of a user, and theareas AR2 and AR3 respectively display therein images captured by theimaging function components C2 and C3 for the areas in the rear rightand rear left directions.

As such, the user can perceive the areas in the rear right and rear leftin addition to the normal view in front the area displayed in the areaAR1 so that he or she can see the area, almost, around him or her.

FIGS. 15A to 16C each show an exemplary display with the configurationincluding the communications section 26 for use as an image source asshown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 15A to 15C each show an exemplary display of an image provided bythe external imaging apparatus 70 with such communications as shown inFIG. 6A or 6C, and received by the communications section 26.

In FIG. 15A, the area AR1 is displaying an image captured by the imagingfunction component C1 for the user's field of view. That is, the user iswatching the soccer game in the stadium from the seating area. At thistime, the system controller 10 makes the area AR2 of the display section2 display therein the image captured by the imaging apparatus 70 andreceived by the communications section 26. Herein, the imaging apparatus70 performs imaging at some other place in the stadium.

The imaging apparatus 70 may be disposed in the vicinity of the seat fora coach, or the imaging apparatus 70 reduced in size may be worn by ajudge. Videos from such an imaging apparatus 70 are received anddisplayed in the area AR2 of the display section 2 so that a user canwatch the game with more interests.

FIG. 15B shows a case where videos captured by the imaging apparatus 70disposed in any resort area or carried around by a user's friend intravel are received by the communications section 26. The systemcontroller 10 makes the area AR1 display therein an image captured bythe imaging function component C1 for the view in front of the user, andat the same time, makes the area AR2 display therein an image of thevideos received by the communications section 26.

With such image display, the user can see images of various areas whilebeing in a park or others in the neighborhood.

FIG. 15C shows an example in which an image on Earth (bird view image)captured by the imaging apparatus 70 disposed in an airplane orsatellite is received by the communications section 26, and is displayedon the display section 2. That is, the system controller 10 makes thearea AR1 display therein an image captured by the imaging functioncomponent C1 for the view in front of a user, and at the same time,makes the area AR2 display therein the image received by thecommunications section 26.

With such image display, the user can enjoy the view that is not usuallyavailable.

FIG. 16A to 16C each show an exemplary display of an image provided bythe external content source device 71 with such communications as shownin FIG. 6B or 6C, and received by the communications section 26.

FIG. 16A shows an example in which, when an image content, i.e., movingimage content or still image content, provided by the content sourcedevice 71 such as AV equipment and personal computer is received, thedisplay section 2 displays thereon the image content. The systemcontroller 10 makes the area AR1 display therein an image captured bythe imaging function component C1 for the view in front of a user, andat the same time, makes the area AR2 display therein an image of thecontent received by the communications section 26.

FIG. 16B shows an example in which image data is forwarded to theimaging display apparatus 1, and in the imaging display apparatus 1,image data received by the communications section 26 is displayed on thedisplay section 2. The image data to be forwarded to the imaging displayapparatus 1 is the browser screen of a website being accessed in thecontent source device 71 such as personal computer, or the applicationscreen being started up. For example, the system controller 10 asks theexternal content source device 71 for data communications via thecommunications section 26, and makes the communications section 26receive the data provided in response to the request. The systemcontroller 10 makes the area AR1 display therein an image captured bythe imaging function component C1 for the view in front of a user, andat the same time, makes the area AR2 display therein an image such asthe browser screen or others received by the communications section 26.

FIG. 16C shows an example in which the imaging display apparatus 1transmits thumbnail images of photo images available in the contentsource device 71 such as personal computer. The thumbnail images arereceived by the communications section 26 in the imaging displayapparatus 1, and are displayed on the display section 2. For example,the system controller 10 asks the external content source device 71 fordata communications via the communications section 26, and makes thecommunications section 26 receive the data provided in response to therequest. The system controller 10 makes the area AR1 display therein animage captured by the imaging function component C1 for the view infront of a user, and at the same time, makes the area AR2 displaytherein an image of the data received by the communications section 26.

As with such examples of FIGS. 16A, 16B, and 16C, for use as an imageprovided by the content source device 71, data coming from AV equipmentsuch as video player or an information processor such as personalcomputer is received for image display so that a user can check imagesof the data or go through various operations in the imaging displayapparatus 1 he or she is wearing.

FIGS. 17A to 17C each show an exemplary display in the configuration ofincluding the storage section 25 as an image source as shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 17A shows an example in which a recording medium in the storagesection 25 is recorded with image contents, i.e., moving image contentsand still image contents, and the image contents are reproduced fordisplay on the display section 2. The system controller 10 issues acommand for the storage section 25 to perform reproduction. The systemcontroller 10 then makes the area AR1 display therein an image capturedby the imaging function component C1 for the view in front of a user,and at the same time, makes the area AR2 display therein the contentimage being the reproduction result of the storage section 25.

FIG. 17B shows an example in which a recording medium in the storagesection 25 is recorded with a game program, and images based on the gameprogram are displayed on the display section 2. The system controller 10issues a command for the storage section 25 to execute the game program.The system controller 10 then makes the area AR1 display therein animage captured by the imaging function component C1 for the view infront of a user, and at the same time, makes the area AR2 displaytherein an image of the game program executed by the storage section 25.

FIG. 17C shows an example in which a recording medium in the storagesection 25 is recorded with an E-book content, and the E-book content isreproduced for display on the display section 2. The system controller10 issues a command for the storage section 25 to reproduce data of theE-book content. The system controller 10 then makes the area AR1 displaytherein an image captured by the imaging function component C1 for theview in front of a user, and at the same time, makes the area AR2display therein the image of the e-book content reproduced by thestorage section 25.

As with such examples of FIGS. 17A, 17B, and 17C, using the imagingdisplay apparatus 1, the user can enjoy a reproduced image of datarecorded on the recording medium while looking at an image in the normalfield of view direction.

Note here that exemplified in FIGS. 17A to 17C are the images providedby the storage section 25 as an image source, and exemplified in FIGS.16A to 16C are the images provided by the external content source device71 and received by the communications section 26. Alternatively, theimages exemplified in FIGS. 16A to 16C may be regarded as reproducedimages provided by the storage section 25, or the images exemplified inFIGS. 17A to 17C may be regarded as those provided by the externalcontent source device 71 and received by the communications section 26.

The exemplary various displays described above are no more thanexamples. In this embodiment, the imaging function component C1 being afirst image source captures an image of the view in the field of viewdirection of a user, and the resulting image is used as a display imagesignal. Any other image sources each generate a display image signalbeing an image different from the image captured by the imaging functioncomponent C1. These images being the display image signals provided bythe image sources are displayed on the display section 2 all at once.The display with such an operation varies to a great extent.

In the below, variously exemplified is a display image signal being animage for display in the area AR2 of the display section 2 when adisplay image signal to be displayed in the area AR1 thereof is an imagesignal of an image normally captured by the imaging function componentC1 for the area in the field of view direction of a user.

Considered first is a case where, in the configuration of FIG. 4, theimaging function component C2 is so disposed as to cover the area forimaging in front of a user similarly to the imaging function componentC1. For such a case, exemplified below are possible display imagesignals based on an imaging signal derived by the imaging section 3 ofthe imaging function component C2:

-   -   Display image signal being a telephoto zoom image as a result of        the zoom operation in the imaging section 3 of the imaging        function component C2.    -   Display image signal being a wide-angle zoom image as a result        of the zoom operation in the imaging section 3 of the imaging        function component C2.    -   Display image signal being a long-range image as a result of the        focus control operation in the imaging section 3 of the imaging        function component C2.    -   Display image signal being a close-range image as a result of        the focus control operation in the imaging section 3 of the        imaging function component C2.    -   Display image signal being a high-speed-captured image or a        low-speed-captured image as a result of imaging frame rate        change in the imaging section 3 of the imaging function        component C2.    -   Display image signal through with a scale-up process as signal        processing in the imaging signal processing section 15 of the        imaging function component C2.    -   Display image signal through with a scale-down process as signal        processing in the imaging signal processing section 15 of the        imaging function component C2.    -   Display image signal as a result of brightness increase with an        increase of imaging sensitivity in the imaging section 3 of the        imaging function component C2.    -   Display image signal as a result of brightness decrease with a        decrease of imaging sensitivity in the imaging section 3 of the        imaging function component C2.    -   Display image signal being a night-view image as a result of        increase of infrared imaging sensitivity in the imaging section        3 of the imaging function component C2.    -   Display image signal being an image as a result of increase of        ultraviolet imaging sensitivity in the imaging section 3 of the        imaging function component C2.    -   Display image signal being an image captured in the imaging        section 3 by cutting a specific wavelength band in the imaging        function component C2.    -   Display image signal being a brightness-increased image as a        result of increase of intensity by signal processing in the        imaging signal processing section 15 of the imaging function        component C2.    -   Display image signal being a brightness-decreased image as a        result of decrease of intensity by signal processing in the        imaging signal processing section 15 of the imaging function        component C2.    -   Display image signal being an image through with color or tone        change by color signal processing in the imaging signal        processing section 15 of the imaging function component C2.

Display image signal being an image through with adjustment of contrast,sharpness, or others by signal processing in the imaging signalprocessing section 15 of the imaging function component C2.

-   -   Display image signal being an image as a result of image effects        processing as signal processing in the imaging signal processing        section 15 of the imaging function component C2, e.g.,        mosaicing, intensity inversion, soft focus, partial highlight        display, and entire highlight display, for example.    -   Display image signal derived by the imaging function component        C2 by combinations of the operations and signal processing        described above.

When the imaging function component C2 captures an image of the view infront of a user similarly to the imaging function component C1, derivinga display image signal by such operations and processing enables todisplay, all at once, the image of the display image signal of theimaging function component C1 and the image different therefrom.

The display image signals are surely not restrictive to thoseexemplified above, and vary in type as “an image different from theimage of the imaging function component C1” as a result of the operationof the imaging section 3 of the imaging function component C2 and thesignal processing by the imaging signal processing section 15.

Alternatively, various requirements may be arbitrarily changed, e.g.,scaling factor for zoom processing and scale-up/scale-down processing,level for an imaging sensitivity change, and processing coefficient forprocessing of intensity signal and color signal.

On the other hand, in the configuration of FIG. 4, when the imagingfunction component C2 is so disposed as to capture an image of the viewnot in the field of view direction for the imaging function componentC1, i.e., in front of a user, a display image signal derived by theimaging function component C2 will be exemplified as below.

That is, in such a case, an image captured normally by the imagingfunction component C2 already shows the view different from that of theimage captured normally by the imaging function component C1, e.g.,image showing the view in the rear, upward, downward, rightward, andleftward. As such, the captured image signal of the imaging functioncomponent C2 may be used as a display image signal as it is, and thedisplay image signal may be displayed on the display section 2 togetherwith the display image signal of the imaging function component C1.

In such a case, as exemplarily listed above, image signals as a resultof the imaging operations by the imaging section 3 of the imagingfunction component C2 or the signal processing by the imaging signalprocessing section 15 may be used as display image signals.

The above description is similarly applicable to a case where three ormore of the imaging function component are provided, i.e., C1, C2, C3,and others.

Considered now is a case where any of the imaging function componentsC2, C3, and others is provided with an imaging function component forcapturing an image of the view in the same direction as the imagingfunction component C1. In this case, the resulting captured imagesignals may be subjected to the imaging operations by the imagingsection 3 or the signal processing by the imaging signal processingsection 15, and the resulting images of the view different from that ofthe imaging function component C1 may be used as display image signals.

In another case where any of the imaging function components C2, C3, andothers is provided with the imaging section 3 for capturing an image ofthe view in the direction different from that of the imaging functioncomponent C1, i.e., direction not in front of a user. In this case, theresulting captured image signals may be used as display image signals,or as exemplarily listed above, image signals through with the imagingoperations by the imaging section 3 or the signal processing by theimaging signal processing section 15 may be used as display imagesignals.

In still another case where any of the imaging function components C2,C3, and others is provided with an imaging function component forcapturing an image of the view in the same direction. In this case, oneof the normally-captured resulting images is used as a display imagesignal, and the remaining image signal through with the operations bythe imaging section 3 or signal processing by the imaging signalprocessing section 15 is used as a display image signal. This enables toderive display image signals of different images from the imagescaptured for the view in the same direction. In this case, surely, asdescribed above, both of the images signals through with operations bythe imaging section 3 or the signal processing by the imaging signalprocessing section 15 may be used as display image signals.

When the imaging function components C2 and C3 both capture an image ofthe view in the rear of a user, one of the resulting normally-capturedimages may be used as a display image signal, and the other being atelephoto image may be used as a display image signal. On the otherhand, one of the images being a scaled-up image may be used as a displayimage signal, and the other being an ultraviolet-sensitivity-increasedimage may be used as a display image signal.

This is also applicable to the configuration in which the imagingfunction component C2 is a movable imaging section that can be changedin direction for imaging. With such an image function component C2, anyimages captured for the view not in front of a user or any image signalsthrough with the operations of the imaging section 3 and the signalprocessing by the imaging function processing section 15 may be used asdisplay image signals.

A movable imaging section provided as such may enable movable control ofvariously changing the imaging direction. When any captured image signalis subjected to image analysis and a specific target is detected, forexample, the imaging direction may be changed in accordance with themovement of the specific target in the captured image. Through suchcontrol, a user can see an image following the specific target in thearea AR2, for example.

This is applicable also to a case of displaying images provided by anexternal device and received by the communications section 26.

That is, images from the external imaging apparatus 70 and the contentsource device 71 are different from images of display image signalsderived by the imaging function component C1. Therefore, by displayingthe image signals received by the communications section 26 as displayimage signals as they are on the display section 2, various types ofimages can be available for display to a user.

This is also applicable to images reproduced by the storage section 25,which are different from images of the display image signals derived bythe imaging function component C1. As such, by displaying the imagesignals being the reproduction results of the storage section 25 asdisplay image signals as they are on the display section 2, varioustypes of images can be available for display to a user.

Note here that when the display image processing section 12 is allowedto execute image signal processing, e.g., image scaling-up or -down,processing of intensity or color, adjustment of contrast or sharpness,and image effects processing, the image signals received by thecommunications section 26 or the image signals being the reproductionresults of the storage section 25 may be subjected to such image signalprocessing, thereby generating display image signals.

When the communications section 26 and the storage section 25 are eachbeing an image source, image display similar to that made by a personalcomputer or others is also possible, e.g., variable-speed reproductionincluding high-speed reproduction, slow-speed reproduction, andframe-by-frame advance, display page change, and scrolling display.

Described above is the case where the images normally captured by theimaging function component C1 are display image signals. Alternatively,image signals through with operations by the imaging section 3 andsignal processing by the imaging signal processing section 15 in theimaging function component C1 may be used as display image signals. Theoperations and signal processing include, for example,telephoto/wide-angle zoom, scale-up/scale-down, sensitivity change,close-range imaging/long-range imaging, processing of intensity orcolor, and image effects processing.

In any cases, any other image sources may be so configured as togenerate display image signals of images different from those from theimaging function component C1.

5. Exemplary Operation Trigger

As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 11, the system controller 10 performsdisplay of images provided by a plurality of image sources whendetermining in step F101 that a display start trigger is generated for aplurality of images. The system controller 10 also makes a displaydetail change or a display configuration change when determining in stepF103 that a display change trigger is generated. Moreover, the systemcontroller 10 ends the display operation of a plurality of images whendetermining in step F104 that a display end trigger is generated for aplurality of images.

The triggers related to display operations as such may be generated inresponse to a user's operation. Alternatively, as described above, thestate of a user or the state of the outside world may be detected first,and then based on any predetermined requirements, the system controller10 may determine that a trigger is generated.

In the below, described is an example in which a determination is madeabout generation of a trigger based on the state of a user or the stateof the outside world.

When the state of a user is referred to for determining generation of atrigger, the imaging display apparatus 1 is provided for the purposewith, as the operation trigger information generation section 16, avision sensor, an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, a body sensor, andothers.

The vision sensor is assumed as detecting information about the user'ssense of sight, and can be implemented by an imaging section if it isdisposed in the vicinity of the display section 2 for capturing an imageof the portion of the user's eyes, for example. The resulting imagecaptured as such by the imaging section for the portion of the user'seyes is acquired by the system controller 10 for image analysis thereof,thereby detecting various types of information, e.g., direction of lineof sight, focal length, pupillary reflex, eyeground pattern, blinking ofeyelid, and others. These detection results are used as a basis todetermine the state of a user and his or her intension.

Alternatively, the vision sensor may be configured by a light-emittingsection and a light reception section. The light-emitting section isdisposed in the vicinity of the display section 2 for illuminating theportion of the user's eyes, and the light reception section receives thelight reflected by the portion of the eyes. For example, light-receivingsignals may be used to detect the thickness of the crystalline lens ofthe user so that the focal length can be detected for the user's eyes.

By detecting the direction of line of sight of a user, the systemcontroller 10 can determine which part of the image displayed on thedisplay section 2 the user is watching with interests.

The system controller 10 can acknowledge the direction of line of sightof a user as an operation input. For example, the lateral movement ofthe user's line of sight may be regarded as a predetermined operationinput for the imaging display apparatus 1.

Detecting the focal length of a user also enables to determine whetherthe view the user is watching with interests is of a close range or along-range. Based on the detection result, control may be accordinglyapplied, e.g., zoom, scale-up or -down, and focal point change. Forexample, when a user looks at the view in the long range, telephotodisplay is accordingly made.

Detecting the pupillary reflex of a user enables to determine thebrightness around the user if the detection result tells that the stateis through, and when the detection result tells that the state is of amonitor display, determine the glaring of the currently-displayed imageperceived by the user. Based on results of such determinations,adjustments of intensity and imaging sensitivity can be accordinglyperformed.

Detecting the eyeground pattern of a user helps authentication of theuser, for example. Because the eyeground pattern is unique to eachindividual, the eyeground pattern can be used to identify who is wearingthe apparatus before control application specifically for the user, oronly any specific user can be allowed to execute the display operation,for example.

Detecting the blinking of a user's eyelids enables to determine thelevel of glaring perceived by the user or the fatigue of the user'seyes. Blinking of eyelids can be acknowledged also as any intentionaloperation input made by a user, e.g., when a user blinks three times, itwill be determined as a predetermined operation input.

The acceleration sensor and the gyro sensor each output a signal inaccordance with the user's movement. For example, the accelerationsensor is suitable for detecting the movement in the linear direction,and the gyro sensor is suitable for detecting the rotation movement andoscillation.

When the acceleration sensor and the gyro sensor are disposed at anyspecific positions, these sensors are allowed to detect the movement ofthe user's body or parts of the body.

When these acceleration and gyro sensors are attached inside of theimaging display apparatus 1 of a glass type as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B,i.e., the sensors are provided for detecting the movement of the user'shead portion, the resulting detection information of the accelerationsensor will be about the movement of the user's head portion or theentire body, and the resulting be about the angular velocity andoscillation of the movement of the user's head portion or the entirebody.

As such, the user's behavior of moving the portion above his or her neckcan be detected, e.g., whether the user is looking up or down. When theuser is looking down, it may be determined that he or she is looking theview in the close range such as a book at hand. On the other hand, whenthe user is looking up, it may be determined that he or she is lookingthe view in the long range.

When detecting any user's behavior of moving the portion above the neck,the system controller 10 may acknowledge that it is the user'sintentional operation. For example, when he or she shakes his or herhead twice, it will be regarded as a predetermined operation input.

Some type of acceleration sensor and the gyro sensor can determinewhether the user remains still (not walking), walking, running, andothers. It is also possible to detect the state change of the user,i.e., the user who has been standing is now sitting down, or the userwho has been sitting down is now standing up.

If the acceleration sensor and the gyro sensor are provided separatelyfrom a wearable unit placed to the head portion, and are attached to theuser's arm or leg, the sensor can detect the user's behavior only of thearm or the leg.

The body sensor detects the user's body information, e.g., informationabout heartbeat (heartbeat count), pulse (pulse count), perspiration,brain wave, e.g., a waves, β waves, θ waves, and δ waves, or galvanicskin response, body heat, blood pressure, breathing activity, e.g.,breathing rate, breathing depth, breathing capacity, and others. Usingsuch information, the system controller 10 can determine the state ofthe user, e.g., whether the user is under pressure or excitation, isemotionally calm, or is comfortable or uncomfortable, for example.

Using such body information, it is also possible to detect whether theuser is now wearing the imaging display apparatus 1. When the user isnot wearing the imaging display apparatus 1, for example, the systemcontroller 10 controllably puts the state into standby for detectingonly body information. When the body information tells that the userputs on the imaging display apparatus 1, the system controller 10controllably puts the state into power ON, and when the body informationtells that the user takes off the imaging display apparatus 1, thesystem controller 10 controllably puts the state back to standby.

The detection information derived by the body sensor can be used foruser's authentication, i.e., identification of who is wearing theapparatus.

Note here that the body sensor may be disposed inside of the wearableframe of the imaging display apparatus 1 of a glass type, for example.With such a disposition, the body sensor may be allowed to detect theinformation about the user's head portion on the sides or in the rear.Alternatively, the body sensor may be provided separately from thewearable frame of the imaging display apparatus 1, and attached to anypredetermined portion of the body.

For detection of the state of the outside world, in the imaging displayapparatus 1, for acquiring any outside world information, the operationtrigger information generation section 16 is provided with a peripheralenvironment sensor, an imaging target sensor, a GPS (Global PositioningSystem) reception section, a date and time counting section, an imageanalysis section, or the communications section 26 may be used.

The peripheral environment sensor is exemplified by an illuminationsensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, an atmospheric pressuresensor, and others.

Some type of the illumination sensor can detect information about thebrightness of the area around the imaging display apparatus 1.

Some type of the temperature sensor, the humidity sensor, and theatmospheric pressure sensor can derive information for use as a basis todetermine the temperature, humidity, the atmospheric pressure, or theweather.

With such peripheral environment sensors, the imaging display apparatus1 is allowed to determine the brightness of the area therearound or theweather if the apparatus is disposed outside. As such, using suchinformation as outside world information, the system controller 10 cancontrollably execute the operation of generating a display image signalsuitable for the brightness therearound or the weather conditions, e.g.,the intensity level is changed in the image based on the brightnesstherearound, or the tone of the image is changed based on the weatherconditions.

The imaging target sensor detects information about an imaging target.The imaging target sensor is exemplified by a range sensor, apyroelectric sensor, and others, and can derive information about thedistance to the imaging target or information for finding out what isthe imaging target.

By detecting the distance to the imaging target, the system controller10 can controllably execute the imaging operation and display operationin accordance with the distance. Moreover, when an imaging target isdetected as being a human being, for example, the system controller 10can controllably execute the operation of generating a display imagesignal in accordance with the imaging target.

A GPS reception section 21 acquires information about latitude andlongitude as the current position. When the latitude and longitude aredetected, the GPS reception section 21 refers to a cartographic databaseor others, thereby acquiring information about the point at the currentposition, i.e., in the vicinity of the point. For reference use by thesystem controller 10, the GPS reception section 21 may be equipped witha relatively-large-capacity recording medium such as HDD (Hard DiskDrive) or a flash memory, and the recording medium may be recorded withthe cartographic database so that the information related to the currentposition can be acquired.

In the configuration that the communications section 26 is provided,even if the imaging display apparatus 1 is not carrying therein acartographic database, an access may be made to a network server or adevice equipped therein with a cartographic database via thecommunications section 26. With such an access, information aboutlatitude and longitude may be transmitted for asking for information inaccordance with the current position so that the information on requestmay be received.

The information about the current position includes the area name in theneighborhood of the current position, the names of buildings,facilities, shops, stations, and others.

The information about the current position also includes the type ofbuildings, e.g., park, theme park, concert hall, theater, movie theater,sports facility, and others.

The information about the current position also includes the type orname of nature, e.g., seashore, sea, river, mountain-ringed region,mountain peak, forest, lake, plain, and others.

As information about a more detailed position, the information about thecurrent position includes a specific area in a theme park, an audiencearea in a baseball field or a soccer field, a seating area in a concerthall, and others.

With such information acquired about the current position, the systemcontroller 10 becomes able to controllably execute the operation ofgenerating a display image signal in accordance with any geographicrequirements, facilities, and others at the current position and in theneighborhood of the current position. The system controller 10 alsobecomes able to exercise control to start or end the display for thespecific location.

The date and time counting section counts the date and time, i.e., year,month, and day, and hour, minute and second, for example. Such a dateand time counting section enables the system controller 10 toacknowledge the current time, day or night, month, season, and others.As such, the system controller 10 can controllably execute the operationof generating a display image signal in accordance with day or night(time), the operation of generating a display image signal suitable forthe current season, and others.

If with an image analysis section for use to analyze a captured image,the following various types of information can be detected from acaptured image for an imaging target.

The imaging target can be defined by type in the captured image, e.g.,human being, animal, nature, building, and device. When the imagingtarget is defined as being an animal, the image may include a bird asbeing an object, or a cat as being an object, for example. When theimaging target is defined as being a nature, the image may include sea,mountain, trees, river, lake, sky, the Sun, the Moon, and others. Whenthe imaging target is defined as being a building, the image may includea house, a building, a sports arena, and others. When the imaging targetis a device, the image may include a personal computer, AV(Audio-Visual) equipment, mobile phone, PDA, IC (Integrated Circuit)card, two-dimensional bar code, and others.

For type definition of an imaging as such, a characteristic setting maybe made in advance for each of varying shapes, and a determination maybe made whether a captured image includes therein an object of any ofthe shapes.

If with image analysis performed by an image analysis section, themovement of an object, e.g., any quick movement, can be detected in theimage with a technique of difference detection or others made betweenframes in the image. If this is the case, it becomes possible to detectany state of capturing an image of any object quickly in motion, e.g.,capturing an image of a player(s) during a game, capturing an image of avehicle(s) on the run.

Also if with image analysis performed by the image analysis section, itis possible to detect the peripheral environment around a user, e.g.,the brightness can be determined based on the time of day or theweather, and the amount of rainfall.

Also if with image analysis performed by the image analysis section,when a human being is an imaging object, it is possible to identify theperson from his or her face. As already known, the face of a human beingcan be constructed as individual characteristic data for use as relativeposition information about parts of the face. For example, eachindividual has his or her own unique ratio of Ed/EN, i.e., a space ENfrom the center of eyes to a nose to a space Ed between the eyes, andratio of Ed/EM, i.e., a space EM from the center of eyes to a mouth tothe space Ed between eyes. As such, the ratios are known as beinginformation not susceptible to changes of a user's outer appearance,e.g., even if a user changes his or her hair style or put on or take offa pair of glasses. The ratios are also known as being information notsusceptible to changes with aging.

As such, when a captured image includes a human face, the image analysissection can detect such individual characteristic data by analyzing theimage.

When any individual characteristic data is detected from a capturedimage, information about a person being the object can be acquired if anHDD or a flash memory is equipped for reference use by the systemcontroller 10, and if a human being database is stored in such arecording medium. Alternatively, even if no human being database isprovided in the imaging display apparatus 1, an access may be made to anetwork server or a device equipped therein with a human being databasevia the communications section 26. With such an access, informationabout individual characteristic data may be transmitted for asking forinformation in need so that the information about a specific person maybe received.

If any information about people a user has met before, e.g., name andtitle, is entered into the human being database together with theindividual characteristic database, for example, when the user meets anyspecific person (captures his or her image), the system controller 10can make a search of his or her information.

If there is a human being database carrying therein information aboutcelebrities together with the individual characteristic data, when auser meets any of such celebrities, the system controller 10 can make asearch of his or her information.

Based on detection information derived by the image analysis section assuch, the system controller 10 can controllably execute the process ofgenerating a display image signal specifically for the imaging target.When the image of any specific target or person is captured, a displayimage signal of highlighting the target may be generated, for example.

With the communications section 26, as outside world information,various types of information can be acquired.

For example, as described in the foregoing, the communications section26 can acquire information found by any external device in accordancewith information about latitude and longitude or individualcharacteristic data provided by the imaging display apparatus 1.

Moreover, from any external device, the communications section 26 canacquire information about weather, e.g., weather information,temperature information, and humidity information.

Moreover, from any external device, the communications section 26 canacquire information about facilities, e.g., information about how to usethe facilities, about whether imaging in the facilities is prohibited orpermitted, guidance information, and others.

The communications section 26 can also acquire identificationinformation about an external device itself, e.g., type and ID of thedevice for identification, as a network device, by any predeterminedcommunications protocol.

The communications section 26 can also acquire image data stored in anyexternal device, image data reproduced or displayed by the externaldevice, image data received by the external device, and others.

Based on such information that can be acquired by the communicationssection 26, the system controller 10 can controllably execute theprocess of generating a display image signal.

Such components are provided as the operation trigger informationgeneration section 16 for detecting the state of a user or the state ofthe outside world, and based on the detection results, the display isstarted, ended, or changed (display detail change and area configurationchange), thereby implementing appropriate or interesting displayoperation with no specific user operation.

The configuration for detecting the state of a user and the state of theoutside world varies more.

6. Effects of Embodiment, Modified Examples, and Enhanced Examples

As described in the foregoing, according to the embodiment, the screenarea of the display section 2 partially displays, by a display imagesignal, an image captured by the imaging function component C1 for theview in the field of view direction of a user. At the same time, displayis performed by a display image signal provided by any other imagesources, e.g., the imaging function component C2, the communicationssection 26, and the storage section 25. In such a manner, while lookingat the normal view in the field of direction, the user can see imagesdifferent from the image normally perceived by the user's sense ofsight. For example, while looking at an image captured by the imagingfunction component C1 for the view in front of the user, the user cansee a telephoto image, a scaled-up image, a special-effect image, animage of the view in the rear, and others by the imaging functioncomponent C2. As such, the user can see the image of the view usuallynot available with the user's normal sense of sight together with anyimage of the normal view so that the user's visual ability can beenhanced artificially.

The external view and configuration of the imaging display apparatus 1is not restrictive to the examples of FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8, andvarious other modified examples are also possible.

An image signal derived by the imaging function component C1 or othersmay be recorded on a recording medium in the storage section 25.

An image signal derived as such by the imaging function component C1 maybe forwarded from the communications section 26 to any other devices.

Alternatively, for imaging, the configuration may include a microphonefor gathering audio in a close range, and an earphone-type speakersection for outputting audio, for example.

Still alternatively, the configuration may include a characterrecognition section for character recognition in an image, and an audiosynthesis section for audio synthesis processing. When a captured imageincludes characters, an audio signal may be generated in the audiosynthesis section by reading aloud the characters, and the resultingsignal may be output from the speaker section.

The display image signal may be a still image. For example, in theimaging function components C1, C2, or others, still images may becaptured at any predetermined trigger, and the resulting still imagesmay be displayed on the display section 2.

Exemplified above is the imaging display apparatus 1 including awearable unit of a glass-type or a head-wearing type. This is surely notrestrictive, and the imaging display apparatus of the embodiment of theinvention may be so configured as to include, as the imaging functioncomponent C1, first image signal generation means for generating adisplay image signal based on a captured image signal derived by theimaging section taking charge of imaging in the field of view directionof a user. That is, the configuration will do if at least an image inthe field of view direction of a user is captured. As such, a unitequipped with the first image signal generation means (the imagefunction component C1) for a user to wear is not restrictive in type,e.g., a headphone type, a neck band type, and an ear-hang type.Moreover, for a user to wear, the unit may be attached to a normal pairof glasses, visor, headphone, or others using an attachment member suchas clip. Moreover, the unit is not necessarily placed to the headportion of a user.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

1. (canceled)
 2. An imaging display apparatus, comprising: a displayunit for image display; a first image signal generation unit thatgenerates a display image signal based on a captured image signalcaptured by an imaging section with a field of view direction of a userbeing a direction of an object; a second image signal generation unitthat generates a display image signal of an image different from animage of the display image signal generated by the first image signalgeneration unit; a display change trigger generation unit that generatesa trigger in response to the state of the user or the state of theoutside world; and a control unit that allows, simultaneously on thedisplay unit, display of the image of the display image signal generatedby the first image signal generation unit and display of the image ofthe display image signal generated by the second image signal generationunit based on the trigger generated by the display change triggergeneration unit.
 3. The imaging display apparatus according to claim 2,wherein the display unit is disposed before eyes of a user for the imagedisplay.
 4. The imaging display apparatus according to claim 2, whereinthe display unit is formed in a chassis different from a chassisincluding therein the first image signal generation unit.
 5. The imagingdisplay apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first image signalgeneration unit includes: the imaging section; and a signal processingsection that performs signal processing with respect to the capturedimage signal captured by the imaging section.
 6. The imaging displayapparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second image signalgeneration unit generates the display image signal to be supplied to thedisplay unit based on the captured image signal captured by the imagingsection.
 7. The imaging display apparatus according to claim 6, whereinthe second image signal generation unit includes: the imaging section;and a signal processing section that performs signal processing withrespect to the captured image signal captured by the imaging section. 8.The imaging display apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the secondimage signal generation unit generates the display image signal of theimage different from the image of the display image signal generated bythe first image signal generation unit by operation control exercised bythe imaging section over an imaging lens system.
 9. The imaging displayapparatus according to claim 7, wherein the second image signalgeneration unit generates the display image signal of the imagedifferent from the image of the display image signal generated by thefirst image signal generation unit by the signal processing in thesignal processing section.
 10. The imaging display apparatus accordingto claim 2, wherein the second image signal generation unit includes areception section that receives an image signal from an external device,and generates, based on the image signal received by the receptionsection, the display image signal of the image different from the imageof the display image signal generated by the first image signalgeneration unit.
 11. The imaging display apparatus according to claim 2,wherein the second image signal generation unit includes a reproductionsection that reproduces an image signal from a recording medium, andgenerates, based on the image signal reproduced by the reproductionsection, the display image signal of the image different from the imageof the display image signal generated by the first image signalgeneration unit.
 12. The imaging display apparatus according to claim 2,wherein the display unit is set with, in a screen area, a master screenarea and a slave screen area, and in either the master screen area orthe slave screen area, image display is made by the display image signalprovided by the first image signal generation means, and on theremaining screen area, image display is made by the display image signalprovided by the second image signal generation section.
 13. The imagingdisplay means according to claim 2, wherein in the display unit, ascreen area is split into two areas, and in one of the two areas, imagedisplay is made by the display image signal provided by the first imagesignal generation unit, and in the remaining area, image display is madeby the display image signal provided by the second image signalgeneration section.
 14. The imaging display apparatus according to claim2, wherein one of the display image signals generated by the first andsecond image signal generation unit is an image signal captured byclose-range imaging or long-range imaging.
 15. The imaging displayapparatus according to claim 2, wherein one of the display image signalsgenerated by the first and second image signal generation unit is animage signal captured by telephoto imaging or wide-angle imaging. 16.The imaging display apparatus according to claim 2, wherein one of thedisplay image signals generated by the first and second image signalgeneration unit is an image signal captured by scale-up processing orscale-down processing.
 17. The imaging display apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein one of the display image signals generated by the firstand second image signal generation unit is an image signal captured withan increase or a decrease of an imaging sensitivity.
 18. The imagingdisplay apparatus according to claim 2, wherein one of the display imagesignals generated by the first and second image signal generation unitis an image signal captured with an increase of an infrared imagingsensitivity.
 19. The imaging display apparatus according to claim 2,wherein one of the display image signals generated by the first andsecond image signal generation unit is an image signal captured with anincrease of an ultraviolet imaging sensitivity.
 20. The imaging displayapparatus according to claim 2, wherein one of the display image signalsgenerated by the first and second image signal generation unit is animage signal captured in a field of view direction of a user being adirection of an object.
 21. The imaging display apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein one of the display image signals generated by the firstand second image signal generation unit is an image signal captured in adirection, as the direction of the object, different from the field ofview direction of the user.